Nonlinear optical properties of in situ corona poled polymers

Results are presented for two novel organic amorphous materials, poled monomeric organic glasses and poled covalently functionalized polymers. The monomeric glasses were made from organic molecules of known high nonlinearity, whereas the covalently functionalized amorphous polymer was made by attaching paranitroaniline groups to every monomer unit of a polymer backbone to form polyparanitroaniline. The materials were extensively characterized with respect to their thermal, structural, linear optical, and dielectric behavior. Thin films were coated on conductive transparent substrates and measured using second-harmonic generation. The buildup and decay of the electric-field-induced nonlinearity is shown in real time, with the sample held at a fixed angle of incidence. The second-harmonic intensity as a function of the angle of incidence for p-polarization is also presented.